>Performance upgrades that actually work ? <
>Performance upgrades that actually work ? <
Performance upgrades that actually work
You didn't think all aftermarket accessories were snake oil, did you? MCF Member's, add your suggested upgrades or comments on this article...>Thanks<
By James Tate of MSN Autos
In our free-market system, most folks are familiar with the principle of caveat emptor, or "let the buyer beware." At the very least, we're raised to be wary of big promises attached to quick or easy fixes, to the point where the very idea of the "quick fix" conjures images of scheming snake-oil salesmen and the desperate marks who fall for their pitches. Believe it or not, sometimes there actually are real-life quick fixes for your car that work and make sense. Let's take a look at some of the relatively easy — though not always inexpensive — ways to improve your ride without wasting your time or money.
Headers
Headers work to expel exhaust gases from the engine's cylinders more efficiently. Depending on the size and design of the headers applied, benefits can include improved torque and more optimal engine performance at higher rpm levels. Between the costs of purchasing headers and installing them, this is not a cheap upgrade, which is one reason your car didn't come from the factory with them. However, if you have the money to install them, headers can give you some extra pull when you need it most.
Read: 10 most expensive car repairs
High-quality air filters
Click to enlarge picture
This is an upgrade in both engine output and fuel efficiency so simple and relatively cheap that it's easy to overlook. While a performance air filter can cost nearly twice as much as a standard filter, it still isn't a huge hit on the wallet, and the benefits are real. For most automobiles, installation of a high-quality air filter can mean a bump of a couple of horsepower and better engine efficiency at highway speeds.
Watch Video: Clean air filters can save on gas
Windshield wipers
This is a basic upgrade — literally, it's right in front of your face. It's all too easy to look right past your windshield wipers, but for about $25 to $40 you can throw on a new pair that will make life that much easier the next time the skies open up. It's not a particularly sexy improvement, but if your wipers are old and worn, you'll be amazed at what a difference a high-quality set can make.
Watch Video: How to replace your windshield wiper blades
ECU tuning
Click to enlarge picture
Those installing performance upgrades such as headers, turbochargers and exhaust systems should also look at fine tuning the software of their engine's electronic control unit. The ECU manages your engine's performance, and "remapping" the ECU specifically for your car and its new upgrades can return improved fuel economy and horsepower. Be warned, however; ECU tuning can easily run into thousands of dollars, and you definitely want to be sure you're going with a reputable ECU remapping service.
Search Bing: ECU remapping
Wheels and tires
Upgrading wheels and tires is the single easiest way to improve the performance of your car or truck. An upgrade could mean anything from getting new, higher-quality rubber that will grip the road better and resist puncture, or going for a wider set of wheels to fit tires with a larger contact patch to improve steering response and vehicle stability through a turn. Tires can get pricey quickly, and wheels even more so. In the end, new tires and wheels are almost always worthwhile. Also, they might look cool, and that's always a plus.
Watch Video: Buying a car? Beware of the tires
Turbocharger / supercharger
Click to enlarge picture
Rising gas prices and the desire of auto enthusiasts to increase both fuel efficiency and performance have led to renewed interest in turbochargers and superchargers. Turbochargers have improved from their earliest popular applications in the 1970s and '80s, when "turbo lag" meant uneven throttle response. Even the least expensive turbocharger kits run into the thousands of dollars, however, and supercharger systems cost even more. But without question, when these forced-induction gizmos go on, horsepower goes up.
Watch Video: Car tech 101: Turbochargers vs. superchargers
Ceramic brake pads
Ceramic brake pads offer improvements in just about every aspect compared with metallic- or organic-based pads. They wear better over time, have a longer life span and handle heat better under heavy use. Usually, the only argument against ceramic pads is the cost, but if they're right for your vehicle, using them is almost a no-brainer, particularly if you find yourself attending regular track days or autocross sessions.
Search Bing: Ceramic brake pads
Continued: Exhaust systems
Oil filter
Click to enlarge picture
If you're looking at the long-term health of your car's engine, a high-quality oil filter is a must. Better oil filters catch finer particles at a higher rate, keeping oil cleaner for longer, which in turn keeps your engine cleaner for longer. For just over $20, a better oil filter is a cheap, simple upgrade whose benefits are more than worthwhile.
Watch Video: Do you change your oil too much?
High-performance shocks and springs
With the trade-off of a stiffer ride, performance shocks and springs can help keep your tires evenly on the road through bumpy conditions and sharp cornering. Better setups can often cost more than $2,000, but replacing shocks and springs is among the easiest ways to change vehicle performance for the better.
View Slideshow: 5 do-it-yourself emergency roadside repairs
Performance seats
Click to enlarge picture
Some may see it as frivolous, but a seat with proper support can make a huge difference not only in ride quality, but in keeping an optimal driving position at all times. Depending on your needs, seats can cost hundreds of dollars and easily run into four-digit prices. If you can live without some creature comforts, it's easy to find a firm, well-bolstered seat without spending too much money. Keep in mind, though, this modification is for the serious sporting driver only.
Search Bing: Performance driving seats
Upgraded anti-roll bars
Connecting the left and right sides of a car's suspension, a heavier anti-roll bar can improve handling at speed while helping keep more of the tires in contact with the road. An upgraded anti-roll bar is an easy addition that, for only a few hundred dollars, contributes much needed support to the car's suspension, and can change the dynamics of the car completely, making for a more entertaining driving experience.
View Slideshow: Do you drive a race car and not know it?
Stainless steel brake lines
Click to enlarge picture
Stainless steel brake lines can provide even braking pressure and are more resistant to corrosion than rubber lines. With flexing greatly reduced under braking compared with standard rubber lines, stainless steel lines provide quicker pedal response. Make sure to check stainless steel brake lines periodically for wear and they will perform well for a long time.
View Slideshow: DIY and save on car fixes
Fuel additives
Fuel additives have long been the realm of modern snake-oil salesmen and false claims. Promises of boosted horsepower just by adding a little bottle of some concoction or another to your next tank of gas are as believable as you think they are. However, some additives designed to help clean fuel injectors do help maintain them and are worth considering. But do your research carefully; some fuel additives help, and others don't. Also be sure to check that the product in your hand works in your car; fuel injection is a very different thing than carburation, and direct injection is another animal entirely.
Watch Video: Is 'Top Tier' gas better for your car?
Performance exhaust systems
Click to enlarge picture
Most exhaust systems alone do little to improve engine performance; for most cars, a new exhaust setup must work along with new headers and possibly a cold-air intake to reap real results. For turbocharged vehicles, however, the benefits of a larger exhaust can count for more than just a greater engine sound. The greater "breathing room" that a performance exhaust system gives your engine allows the turbo to spool up more quickly and return its power boost at lower speeds.
Search Bing: Performance exhaust system
Oxygen sensor
Over time, the oxygen sensor on your engine accumulates contaminants that kill its ability to help regulate your vehicle's emissions, not to mention causing the engine to use more fuel than it otherwise would. A new oxygen sensor will not only help you pass an emissions inspection, but depending on the condition of your current sensor, you may see an improvement in fuel economy as well.
*^ It really works ^
James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.
You didn't think all aftermarket accessories were snake oil, did you? MCF Member's, add your suggested upgrades or comments on this article...>Thanks<
By James Tate of MSN Autos
In our free-market system, most folks are familiar with the principle of caveat emptor, or "let the buyer beware." At the very least, we're raised to be wary of big promises attached to quick or easy fixes, to the point where the very idea of the "quick fix" conjures images of scheming snake-oil salesmen and the desperate marks who fall for their pitches. Believe it or not, sometimes there actually are real-life quick fixes for your car that work and make sense. Let's take a look at some of the relatively easy — though not always inexpensive — ways to improve your ride without wasting your time or money.
Headers
Headers work to expel exhaust gases from the engine's cylinders more efficiently. Depending on the size and design of the headers applied, benefits can include improved torque and more optimal engine performance at higher rpm levels. Between the costs of purchasing headers and installing them, this is not a cheap upgrade, which is one reason your car didn't come from the factory with them. However, if you have the money to install them, headers can give you some extra pull when you need it most.
Read: 10 most expensive car repairs
High-quality air filters
Click to enlarge picture
This is an upgrade in both engine output and fuel efficiency so simple and relatively cheap that it's easy to overlook. While a performance air filter can cost nearly twice as much as a standard filter, it still isn't a huge hit on the wallet, and the benefits are real. For most automobiles, installation of a high-quality air filter can mean a bump of a couple of horsepower and better engine efficiency at highway speeds.
Watch Video: Clean air filters can save on gas
Windshield wipers
This is a basic upgrade — literally, it's right in front of your face. It's all too easy to look right past your windshield wipers, but for about $25 to $40 you can throw on a new pair that will make life that much easier the next time the skies open up. It's not a particularly sexy improvement, but if your wipers are old and worn, you'll be amazed at what a difference a high-quality set can make.
Watch Video: How to replace your windshield wiper blades
ECU tuning
Click to enlarge picture
Those installing performance upgrades such as headers, turbochargers and exhaust systems should also look at fine tuning the software of their engine's electronic control unit. The ECU manages your engine's performance, and "remapping" the ECU specifically for your car and its new upgrades can return improved fuel economy and horsepower. Be warned, however; ECU tuning can easily run into thousands of dollars, and you definitely want to be sure you're going with a reputable ECU remapping service.
Search Bing: ECU remapping
Wheels and tires
Upgrading wheels and tires is the single easiest way to improve the performance of your car or truck. An upgrade could mean anything from getting new, higher-quality rubber that will grip the road better and resist puncture, or going for a wider set of wheels to fit tires with a larger contact patch to improve steering response and vehicle stability through a turn. Tires can get pricey quickly, and wheels even more so. In the end, new tires and wheels are almost always worthwhile. Also, they might look cool, and that's always a plus.
Watch Video: Buying a car? Beware of the tires
Turbocharger / supercharger
Click to enlarge picture
Rising gas prices and the desire of auto enthusiasts to increase both fuel efficiency and performance have led to renewed interest in turbochargers and superchargers. Turbochargers have improved from their earliest popular applications in the 1970s and '80s, when "turbo lag" meant uneven throttle response. Even the least expensive turbocharger kits run into the thousands of dollars, however, and supercharger systems cost even more. But without question, when these forced-induction gizmos go on, horsepower goes up.
Watch Video: Car tech 101: Turbochargers vs. superchargers
Ceramic brake pads
Ceramic brake pads offer improvements in just about every aspect compared with metallic- or organic-based pads. They wear better over time, have a longer life span and handle heat better under heavy use. Usually, the only argument against ceramic pads is the cost, but if they're right for your vehicle, using them is almost a no-brainer, particularly if you find yourself attending regular track days or autocross sessions.
Search Bing: Ceramic brake pads
Continued: Exhaust systems
Oil filter
Click to enlarge picture
If you're looking at the long-term health of your car's engine, a high-quality oil filter is a must. Better oil filters catch finer particles at a higher rate, keeping oil cleaner for longer, which in turn keeps your engine cleaner for longer. For just over $20, a better oil filter is a cheap, simple upgrade whose benefits are more than worthwhile.
Watch Video: Do you change your oil too much?
High-performance shocks and springs
With the trade-off of a stiffer ride, performance shocks and springs can help keep your tires evenly on the road through bumpy conditions and sharp cornering. Better setups can often cost more than $2,000, but replacing shocks and springs is among the easiest ways to change vehicle performance for the better.
View Slideshow: 5 do-it-yourself emergency roadside repairs
Performance seats
Click to enlarge picture
Some may see it as frivolous, but a seat with proper support can make a huge difference not only in ride quality, but in keeping an optimal driving position at all times. Depending on your needs, seats can cost hundreds of dollars and easily run into four-digit prices. If you can live without some creature comforts, it's easy to find a firm, well-bolstered seat without spending too much money. Keep in mind, though, this modification is for the serious sporting driver only.
Search Bing: Performance driving seats
Upgraded anti-roll bars
Connecting the left and right sides of a car's suspension, a heavier anti-roll bar can improve handling at speed while helping keep more of the tires in contact with the road. An upgraded anti-roll bar is an easy addition that, for only a few hundred dollars, contributes much needed support to the car's suspension, and can change the dynamics of the car completely, making for a more entertaining driving experience.
View Slideshow: Do you drive a race car and not know it?
Stainless steel brake lines
Click to enlarge picture
Stainless steel brake lines can provide even braking pressure and are more resistant to corrosion than rubber lines. With flexing greatly reduced under braking compared with standard rubber lines, stainless steel lines provide quicker pedal response. Make sure to check stainless steel brake lines periodically for wear and they will perform well for a long time.
View Slideshow: DIY and save on car fixes
Fuel additives
Fuel additives have long been the realm of modern snake-oil salesmen and false claims. Promises of boosted horsepower just by adding a little bottle of some concoction or another to your next tank of gas are as believable as you think they are. However, some additives designed to help clean fuel injectors do help maintain them and are worth considering. But do your research carefully; some fuel additives help, and others don't. Also be sure to check that the product in your hand works in your car; fuel injection is a very different thing than carburation, and direct injection is another animal entirely.
Watch Video: Is 'Top Tier' gas better for your car?
Performance exhaust systems
Click to enlarge picture
Most exhaust systems alone do little to improve engine performance; for most cars, a new exhaust setup must work along with new headers and possibly a cold-air intake to reap real results. For turbocharged vehicles, however, the benefits of a larger exhaust can count for more than just a greater engine sound. The greater "breathing room" that a performance exhaust system gives your engine allows the turbo to spool up more quickly and return its power boost at lower speeds.
Search Bing: Performance exhaust system
Oxygen sensor
Over time, the oxygen sensor on your engine accumulates contaminants that kill its ability to help regulate your vehicle's emissions, not to mention causing the engine to use more fuel than it otherwise would. A new oxygen sensor will not only help you pass an emissions inspection, but depending on the condition of your current sensor, you may see an improvement in fuel economy as well.
*^ It really works ^
James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.
Last edited by BeachBumMike; Jul 29, 2014 at 12:15 PM.
10 Bolt-On Auto Performance Upgrades That Really Work
These days, cars are so highly developed to meet emissions and fuel-economy standards that it's usually not possible to improve over the factory designs. We said "usually"—cars are still compromises to corporate comfort and accessibility standards. We've found 10 relatively simple bolt-on components that give you true performance increases without permanent modifications to your car.
BY PHIL BERG
10 Bolt-On Auto Performance Upgrades That Really Work - Popular Mechanics
CLick above
These days, cars are so highly developed to meet emissions and fuel-economy standards that it's usually not possible to improve over the factory designs. We said "usually"—cars are still compromises to corporate comfort and accessibility standards. We've found 10 relatively simple bolt-on components that give you true performance increases without permanent modifications to your car.
BY PHIL BERG
- Back
- 1 of 10
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10 Bolt-On Auto Performance Upgrades That Really Work - Popular Mechanics
CLick above
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,635
From: Central Oklahoma
Anything that helps an engine to breathe better, either on the intake or exhaust end, will improve performance in varying degrees. Exhaust is one of the first things I do with a car when I buy one. Not only does it help efficiency, but being able to hear it also helps me know when something is "off" because I can hear the change in exhaust note when something changes.
On my list of things to buy is my own tuning software. Mail order tunes only do so much, and dyno time is not cheap. Probably going to go with HPTuners, as I plan to return to the 3800 platform at some point and they have support for that as well as all the Vortec motors that I currently play with. I'm a computer geek, so learning that end of it along with my existing knowledge of engines will be cake.
On my list of things to buy is my own tuning software. Mail order tunes only do so much, and dyno time is not cheap. Probably going to go with HPTuners, as I plan to return to the 3800 platform at some point and they have support for that as well as all the Vortec motors that I currently play with. I'm a computer geek, so learning that end of it along with my existing knowledge of engines will be cake.
Monte Of The Month -- August 2014
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 25,145
From: Southeast PA
HPTuners has been a great investment for me so far 
It has a huge learning curve, but you can actually download the software NOW! For Free!
You can't save any tunes, but they have a ton of demo .bins out there and you can actually start getting your feet wet.
It has a huge learning curve, but you can actually download the software NOW! For Free!
You can't save any tunes, but they have a ton of demo .bins out there and you can actually start getting your feet wet.
Thanks `Mike 4>Sure!
Thanks Admin `Mike for your post & contribution
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,635
From: Central Oklahoma
I may have to do that and start playing with it some.although I won't have much longer before I can go ahead and drop the money for it.
Thanks `John, U Drive the PROOF of Turbo POWER
Yes `John, put them both 2gether & HOLD ON >
Buckle `Up > EnJoy the POWER 
Ten Affordable Ways To Improve Your Car
Máté Petrány
Profile
Máté PetrányFiled to: ANSWERS OF THE DAY
Car tuning is not as complex or ridiculous as films might suggest. Follow some basic steps and you can end up with more power, better fuel economy and improved safety.
Before we get into how you can mod your car we have to ask WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CHECKED YOUR TIRE PRESSURE? Seriously, nobody inflates their tires properly anymore.
Well, now that you've inflated your saggy, mileage-killing tires, go ahead with these ten tuning ideas:
10.) Get rid of the junk, add lightness
EXPAND
B33g33 suggest a completely free five step program for a slimmer you with more speed, whilepanaceasarsalad has a story for you:
Here's 5 things you can do without SPENDING A PENNY!Read more
9.) Use the best oil and change it regularly
EXPAND
Older cars don't really like synthetic oils, but it's worth experimenting for the best result, saysPilotMan:
Oil change with synthetic, maybe something with a bit lower viscosity. GT4 aside I remember an old…Read more
8.) Get Polyurethane bushings
EXPAND
Chairman Kaga is absolutely right, poly bushings and engine mounts make all the difference:
Poly bushings. Granted, this advice applies largely to older cars with some miles on them, but in…Read more
7.) Replace your old spark plugs and air filter
EXPAND
Give it more air and fire, get extra horsepower.
Suggested By: fritzo, Photo Credit: AJ Hill - Blacklight Propaganda Photography
Performance-wise? The cheapest things you can do:Read more
6.) Get a new head unit or AUX port
EXPAND
Won't make you go any faster, but good music improves the cabin quite significantly.
Suggested By: Jay_Hoff, Photo Credit: Dave Linger
Getting an AUX port or upgrading your headunit to allow more sources of music.Read more
5.) Build in a strut tower brace
EXPAND
A very true message from CalzoneGolem:
Suggested By: CalzoneGolem, Photo Credit: judgedreddgto
Strut Tower brace. They make an immediate difference in handling. They are usually pretty cheap and …Read more
4.) Get a good set of tires and keep them inflated
EXPAND
Good tires make all the difference. More grip makes you faster and keeps you safe:
Better tires. The difference between the cornering performance/feel of my humble Fusion with the…Read more
3.) Get a set of good rims for those tires
EXPAND
It's not just the looks. A lightweight set will improve handling and brake performance.
Suggested By: CobraJoe, Photo Credit: Thibault Le Mer | Photography
2.) Replace the factory exhaust
EXPAND
It's not about the size or the noise. It's about improving airflow and getting extra power in the process. CobraJoe has a list:
As far as performance mods go, I'd say exhaust.Read more
1.) Get clever shock absorbers
EXPAND
This move can get pretty expensive, but a good suspension is what sells Lotuses.
Máté Petrány
Profile
Máté PetrányFiled to: ANSWERS OF THE DAY
Car tuning is not as complex or ridiculous as films might suggest. Follow some basic steps and you can end up with more power, better fuel economy and improved safety.
Before we get into how you can mod your car we have to ask WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CHECKED YOUR TIRE PRESSURE? Seriously, nobody inflates their tires properly anymore.
Well, now that you've inflated your saggy, mileage-killing tires, go ahead with these ten tuning ideas:
10.) Get rid of the junk, add lightness
EXPANDB33g33 suggest a completely free five step program for a slimmer you with more speed, whilepanaceasarsalad has a story for you:
Here's 5 things you can do without SPENDING A PENNY!Read more
It's amazing how quickly the weight of all that crap in your backseat/trunk can add up, and (depending on what kind of car you have) the effect it can have on mileage, handling, braking distance, etc. There's a reason "add lightness" is a common refrain among automotive types.
My girlfriend is a teacher and a coach, and recently (after a few weeks driving around with all the crap she'd emptied out of her classroom after the end of the school year) she started complaining that her mileage had dropped several MPGs over the last couple of fill-ups.
I went out to her car, and my jaw dropped. The backseat and trunk of her Subie wasfull of books and lacrosse equipment and random crap. I emptied the rough equivalent of two human beings out of her back seat and trunk, and had her check the mileage again after another tank of gas. She gained back about 3-4 MPG.
I realize that any number of factors could contribute to so small a change, but her driving habits are very consistent, so I don't think this is coincidence. And it's not just mileage: you're changing the handling dynamics and weight distribution, put trace amounts of extra wear and tear on suspension components and brakes, etc. Sure, cars are made to haul stuff around, but they're not made to be storage units. Keeping unecessary weight in your car will cost you.
Suggested By: b33g33, Photo Credit: zappowbang My girlfriend is a teacher and a coach, and recently (after a few weeks driving around with all the crap she'd emptied out of her classroom after the end of the school year) she started complaining that her mileage had dropped several MPGs over the last couple of fill-ups.
I went out to her car, and my jaw dropped. The backseat and trunk of her Subie wasfull of books and lacrosse equipment and random crap. I emptied the rough equivalent of two human beings out of her back seat and trunk, and had her check the mileage again after another tank of gas. She gained back about 3-4 MPG.
I realize that any number of factors could contribute to so small a change, but her driving habits are very consistent, so I don't think this is coincidence. And it's not just mileage: you're changing the handling dynamics and weight distribution, put trace amounts of extra wear and tear on suspension components and brakes, etc. Sure, cars are made to haul stuff around, but they're not made to be storage units. Keeping unecessary weight in your car will cost you.
9.) Use the best oil and change it regularly
EXPANDOlder cars don't really like synthetic oils, but it's worth experimenting for the best result, saysPilotMan:
Oil change with synthetic, maybe something with a bit lower viscosity. GT4 aside I remember an old…Read more
Oil change with synthetic, maybe something with a bit lower viscosity. GT4 aside I remember an old Hot Rod Magazine article from when I was kid, they picked up something like 5-15 horsepower with improved oil. They were testing different engines on an engine dyno.
For the sake of turbo bearings and heavy duty minivan usage (not the same car), I always use synthetic, usually Mobile 1. I stick with the recommended viscosities but my cars always seem so much happier after an oil change.
Suggested By: PilotMan, Photo Credit: Robert Couse-Baker For the sake of turbo bearings and heavy duty minivan usage (not the same car), I always use synthetic, usually Mobile 1. I stick with the recommended viscosities but my cars always seem so much happier after an oil change.
8.) Get Polyurethane bushings
EXPANDChairman Kaga is absolutely right, poly bushings and engine mounts make all the difference:
Poly bushings. Granted, this advice applies largely to older cars with some miles on them, but in…Read more
Poly bushings. Granted, this advice applies largely to older cars with some miles on them, but in my experience nothing has an immediate, "Whoa, that's different" result than replacing worn, rubber bushings with new polyurethane bushings.
The most impactful parts to focus on, again in my limited experience, are shifter linkage, suspension A-arms and caster rods (if you have those, or just suspension components in general), and sway bars. Next on the list are engine and transmission mounts, just because that's a LOT more work. Then anything that requires you drop driveline components, like, say for example, the DeDion mount in a 116 series Alfa. Ugh.
Your car will feel tighter, more agile, and meaner the first time you take it out. Also, burning out old bushings with a butane torch is a hoot. Just make sure you're outside, and don't breathe the fumes, duh.
Suggested By: Chairman Kaga, Photo Credit: AdamsDblDwnThe most impactful parts to focus on, again in my limited experience, are shifter linkage, suspension A-arms and caster rods (if you have those, or just suspension components in general), and sway bars. Next on the list are engine and transmission mounts, just because that's a LOT more work. Then anything that requires you drop driveline components, like, say for example, the DeDion mount in a 116 series Alfa. Ugh.
Your car will feel tighter, more agile, and meaner the first time you take it out. Also, burning out old bushings with a butane torch is a hoot. Just make sure you're outside, and don't breathe the fumes, duh.
7.) Replace your old spark plugs and air filter
EXPANDGive it more air and fire, get extra horsepower.
Suggested By: fritzo, Photo Credit: AJ Hill - Blacklight Propaganda Photography
Performance-wise? The cheapest things you can do:Read more
6.) Get a new head unit or AUX port
EXPANDWon't make you go any faster, but good music improves the cabin quite significantly.
Suggested By: Jay_Hoff, Photo Credit: Dave Linger
Getting an AUX port or upgrading your headunit to allow more sources of music.Read more
5.) Build in a strut tower brace
EXPANDA very true message from CalzoneGolem:
They make an immediate difference in handling. They are usually pretty cheap and quick and east to install.
If there's no kit available, you can always make one out of some steel.Suggested By: CalzoneGolem, Photo Credit: judgedreddgto
Strut Tower brace. They make an immediate difference in handling. They are usually pretty cheap and …Read more
4.) Get a good set of tires and keep them inflated
EXPANDGood tires make all the difference. More grip makes you faster and keeps you safe:
The difference between the cornering performance/feel of my humble Fusion with the original tires from the factory vs. the Eagle GTs that I replaced them with is astounding. Tires should always be your first move.
Suggested By: Brian, The Lift of, Photo Credit: Steve Snodgrass Better tires. The difference between the cornering performance/feel of my humble Fusion with the…Read more
3.) Get a set of good rims for those tires
EXPANDIt's not just the looks. A lightweight set will improve handling and brake performance.
Suggested By: CobraJoe, Photo Credit: Thibault Le Mer | Photography
2.) Replace the factory exhaust
EXPANDIt's not about the size or the noise. It's about improving airflow and getting extra power in the process. CobraJoe has a list:
As far as performance mods go, I'd say exhaust.
Depending on your vehicle, you could get a catback kit for as low as $200, and while it's not likely that you'll gain much power, you will gain a little bit of response and a whole new feel to the car. An exhaust you can hear makes the car feel faster because you can hear the engine working, and that'll make you happy.
Just make sure to do some research into the exhausts that are available and choose one that sounds like you want it to sound. Also, I'd recommend using a catback kit and not trying to make your own, it's difficult to make it sound good and avoid droning when selecting mufflers.
Of course, this is moot if the stock system sounds great.
Suggested By: CobraJoe, Photo Credit: bigpresh Depending on your vehicle, you could get a catback kit for as low as $200, and while it's not likely that you'll gain much power, you will gain a little bit of response and a whole new feel to the car. An exhaust you can hear makes the car feel faster because you can hear the engine working, and that'll make you happy.
Just make sure to do some research into the exhausts that are available and choose one that sounds like you want it to sound. Also, I'd recommend using a catback kit and not trying to make your own, it's difficult to make it sound good and avoid droning when selecting mufflers.
Of course, this is moot if the stock system sounds great.
As far as performance mods go, I'd say exhaust.Read more
1.) Get clever shock absorbers
EXPANDThis move can get pretty expensive, but a good suspension is what sells Lotuses.
Last edited by BeachBumMike; Aug 6, 2014 at 06:45 AM.
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Christopher Michael Riley
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Feb 16, 2013 03:57 PM
